Research & exploration: Our connection to - and disconnection from - nature.
Chapter 5: Introduction to my learning journey on Systemic Change
In this chapter of my systemic journey to uncover “How might we scale environmental awareness and action by tapping into the collective consciousness?” I will explore the factors that pull us away from nature and share the insights gained during my research interviews on how to reconnect with it.
If you haven’t followed the previous chapters, I invite you to check them out for a comprehensive view of this in-depth analysis, which has brought to light valuable conversations about collective consciousness and human behaviour:
Chapter 1: Diving in to find a way out of the climate crisis.
Chapter 2: What is consciousness and how it manifests?
Chapter 3: Our behaviour as humans (and as a collective)
Chapter 4: What makes us change?
Degrees of Separation
As we consider our disconnection from the natural world, it’s evident that our physical distance from it plays a significant role. People living in dense urban areas are primarily focused on work and finances to sustain their lifestyles. The way cities are built and designed often results in less access to nature, hence the term ‘concrete jungles’. Our urban routines are far removed from the sources of our food, and most of us have never grown anything ourselves.
According to the World Bank, today, some 56% of the world’s population — 4.4 billion inhabitants — live in cities. This trend is expected to continue, with the urban population more than doubling its current size by 2050, at which point nearly 7 out of 10 people will live in cities.
If we travel back in the history of humankind, we’ll realize that colonialism still exerts a strong influence on our societies. The anthropocentric belief that we are ‘apart from’ and ‘superior to’ nature fosters an extractive mindset, justifying infinite resource withdrawal. Our economies reward exploitative initiatives with the power and wealth that we individually pursue.
This desire to tame and master nature permeates our habits. Consider the need to keep our surroundings tidy and manicured, a value that is increasingly visible on social media and set as an example in various aspects of life — from our appearance to the food we eat to the spaces where we live, work, and entertain. While there is a sense of pride in maintaining our lawns, planting trees in orderly rows contrasts with how forests naturally grow. Regenerative agriculture, on the other hand, mimics natural cycles, protecting and not tilling the soil.
“We design our own problems by disrupting nature and ecological cycles. We should look at our gardens as oases of biodiversity. We need to let it be,” says Marie Geneste, founder of The C Collective.
As we grow apart from nature in urban centres, individualism and loneliness rise. We struggle to feel the impact of our actions, and environmental challenges often seem to happen elsewhere. “It might feel distant, especially for those who haven’t experienced the reality of having their home flooded,” says Rafaele Amalcabúrio, Cognitive Behaviour Psychologist.
Is Education Failing Us?
“As we grow up, we forget the core elements that make us human,” says Jessica Ha, a Sustainability Lawyer based in Hong Kong.
Educational systems that prioritize performance above all, coupled with curricula focused on intellectual studies, may be failing to raise awareness from a young age. Students spend a significant amount of time in front of screens and lack activities that connect with nature and allow them to get their hands in the soil.
“My kids used to love being outside, but they’ve forgotten about this. They no longer seek time in nature and aren’t interested in walking in the woods. However, they recognize its importance when they are actually there,” says Marie Geneste.
External Connection, Internal Disruption
Niels de Fraguier, author of Regenerative Enterprise, posed an intriguing question: “If you could have spoken to three generations before, what would you have done differently?”
This epidemic disconnection from nature is even more pronounced in the Western world, possibly linked to its strong capitalist mindset. Mass consumption and a relentless cycle of busyness and competitive lifestyles, perpetuated by the media industry, have intoxicated individuals to the point of disconnection from themselves. This mental pollution builds stress like onion layers, hindering our natural connection with the divine.
Michael Miller, founder of the London and New York Meditation Centre, shares the view that the belief in separation is the root cause of this issue. “When we understand that there’s no separation, that there’s one thing, change starts to happen. To experience that absolute state demands evolution. There’s refinement over time, and when you experience that enough, you can perceive more.”
Another compelling perspective comes from Anika Gunawan, an aqua-movement therapist based in Bali, Indonesia. Despite the monumental issue of plastic pollution in the ocean, Bali is renowned for its spiritual practices that attract people from around the world seeking to heal their connection to the divine. According to her, “we live in polarities and paradoxes — being at one with everything and everyone, while at the same time needing money to protect our property and save our kids.” This psychodynamic structure of greed prevents us from connecting to higher consciousness.
Making our Way Back
We’re inherently connected to nature, and this connection is present from day one. Just like artistic skills, this relationship must be cultivated by spending time in forests, gardens, growing flowers, food, and being in contact with other living beings. The growing interest in practices like plant and bird watching demonstrates our innate desire to reconnect with nature, bringing joy and grounding when we do.
This beautiful comment from Marie’s 6-year-old boy encapsulates it perfectly: “Most people say that nature is something external, but we are part of nature.”
Finding ways to calm the mind allows us to feel present and included. Mindfulness can serve as an antidote to the autopilot mode we’ve adopted in our lives. Surfing, as a sport embedded in nature, can also bring a sense of tranquillity. According to Neil Taylor, Sustainability Consultant and avid surfer, “it decentralises the ego. You share the space with jellyfish, you feel small.”
Reflecting on Niels’ earlier question, it’s crucial to consider our ancestry and the legacy we leave for future generations. It’s not about what we can or can’t do; we must do all we can to serve as guardians of this planet. What kind of ancestors do we want to be?
I’ll leave you with a quick “Cause and effect” mapping I worked on during my course at the School of Systems Change. See you in the next chapter!
CONTINUE READING
Chapter 1: Diving in to find a way out of the climate crisis.
Chapter 2: What is consciousness and how it manifests?
Chapter 3: Our behaviour as humans (and as a collective)
Chapter 4: What makes us change?
Chapter 6: Who are the awakened individuals taking action?
Chapter 7: Living a sustainable life
